SoftStartRV Installation Simple and Straightforward for your RV AC Air Conditioner

[@AndyH.andymail426]

Best video for showing how easy soft start install is. While the directions were pretty good, the video was great to clarify a couple steps. I was able to install 2 soft starts in 1.5 hours.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thank you so much for the comment. This type of feedback is why I try to make these videos. You are very motivating. I'm thinking of doing another RV video soon.

[@garyweggies]

Go for it, Paul!

[@WhatsMyGear]

I hope he does!

[@spineguy444]

Great product and great product support from Soft Start

[@WhatsMyGear]

It's been working well for me since I installed it. 😀

[@1900Ellen]

Ted & Paul, I appreciate you making this video! It walked me through getting the SoftStart installed because I brought my iPad on the roof and did the process as you guys showed each step. I would have been done in about 15 minutes if I had brought all of the tools I needed with me on my first trip up!

[@WhatsMyGear]

So glad we could help!

[@josephknudson5097]

Go for it Paul! Getting ready to install my unit. Good to see it done first hand. God bless you.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Hope it goes well for you 😀

[@Alex-jo2oi]

After seeing what these look like for the first time, they look super simple to troubleshoot and repair. Thanks

[@WhatsMyGear]

It really wasn't bad

[@teganmccartney7945]

Great video! Come to find out I had the exact same AC unit on my camper. So I was able to walk right through the video with you. Turn it on and no green light. I didn't have the power wire pushed down enough. All is good now. Greatly appreciated! Thank you.

[@WhatsMyGear]

So glad you got value out of this video! Thanks for commenting it really helps the channel 😀

[@elliotttemple6496]

Great job, start your channel Paul. Very helpful

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thank you!

[@guillermoaraque2289]

Thank you guys for an amazing and simple to follow video!

[@WhatsMyGear]

You are welcome! Glad we could help!

[@mikecarroll970]

Excellent video and easy to follow. Thanks.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Glad you got value from it 😀

[@flash8051]

Great video! On the mounting of the unit, one suggestion would have been to simply move it over toward the edge a bit so at least the two screws on the left side (top and bottom) would simply go through into the capacitor compartment which you already had open and can see where it is clear. Two screws plus the tape would be sufficient I would think?

[@WhatsMyGear]

Great suggestion! Appreciate the exchange of ideas 💡

[@dianeassell6530]

That's what we did also, pretty tough to get to the other two screws anyway.

[@mr.peabody3509]

One of the best videos now in my collection. I'm subscribing. GREAT job, informative and clear. #softstartrv , Go Paul!!! let me see that channel!!!

[@WhatsMyGear]

One of the happiest comments I've seen in a while. You made my day! Thank you! And I'll pass along the info to Paul 😀

[@louisvazquez2242]

Wow! Great video👍🏻. Just installed a soft start in both AC units using this video and they are working perfectly!! Thank you🙏🏻

[@WhatsMyGear]

I'm so glad this helped!

[@gadroberts]

Great video I’m going to install mine today. I hope Paul started his channel. I know it’s been a while since this video was created. Always for anyone that starts something new.

[@WhatsMyGear]

He hasn't started it yet. I just talked to him about it the other day. Good luck with your installation!

[@E9248-j7z]

The way he cut that zip tie at 8:45 should be criminal 😂 Great video though! Researching upgrading my 400w solar system to include new/more panels, a second inverter and AC unit. This helped guide my thinking!

[@WhatsMyGear]

Glad it helped!!!

[@2000Foxflyer]

Splitting the shroud is not necessary once the screws are out. Just lift the rear and push forward to release from the front clips

[@WhatsMyGear]

I saw that after I watched the video, and thought we probably didn't need that step.

[@chuckmayerchak3071]

Great product works as advertised! Also great support. Thanks again Mateo for the update last year. I had 2 great starts this season!!! 😂

[@WhatsMyGear]

Glag to hear it!

[@Jay-me7gw]

These are great. I installed one recently and can start and run my A/C off of a 3000 Watt inverter and some LiFePO4 batteries.

[@WhatsMyGear]

love this!

[@Bobby_Chingas]

Hi Jay how many AH total are you running I'm looking to do the same and wondering if 400AH will suffice with a 3000w inverter.

[@Jay-me7gw]

@@Bobby_Chingas I am running 3x Renogy 170 AH batteries(510 AH total). I found them for an extremely good price a few times and stocked up. 400 AH would probably power the AC unit no problem, my math shows 150A draw from the batteries at steady state(~1600W @ 120V).

[@Bobby_Chingas]

@@Jay-me7gw thanks for the feedback appreciated

[@GottaLoveGoats]

I just finished installing my SoftStartRV in my new AC unit! I installed the SSRV before the AC unit was installed and I'm sure glad because the unit had no room, no give, no extra wiring, and everything was tied down way too well (which normally is a very good thing). It took me hours just to disassemble everything so I could get to the wiring. Crazy. But it was a successful effort in the end! Now I just hope it all works when I get the unit officially installed. 🤞🤞

[@WhatsMyGear]

First time I've heard someone putting it in before the AC was installed. Are you replacing the AC, or did the RV never have one in the first place.

[@GottaLoveGoats]

@@WhatsMyGear Replacing. There was a 13.5 BTU AC in the trailer when we purchased it (2 units actually), but we are living in the trailer off grid and using just one of them was too high of an energy draw to use even for a short time. Our inverter was not large enough for the power draw. We ended up removing one of the units and installed a 12v swamp cooler unit (turbokool), which was a disaster and didn't work at all, so now we are going back to the regular RV AC unit. The AC we just purchased however is a 9.5K BTU AC and we purchased the softstartRV hoping it will help even more, which I really think it will. Finger's cross again. Kind of TMI, sorry. It's been quite a journey. :)

[@WhatsMyGear]

Please feel free to keep sharing! I love learning from what others are doing 😀do you have an IG to follow?

[@GottaLoveGoats]

@@WhatsMyGear I'm the same way. I love to hear what folks are doing with their trailers, how they are improving them, and how they are managing, especially if they live in them off grid! 🙂 As for the IG (inverter generator?), no, mainly because our current solar set up is very much like the home solar set ups except that we don't have a true standby generator; only a large portable generator that we can plug into if we draw down our batteries too much. We have 22 solar panels, 12 FLA deep cycles batteries, 2 charge controllers, and a 4000 watt inverter. The 4k seems like a lot, but when you consider we have a 220v water pressure tank connected, a couple of computers going daily, a couple of refrigerators, washer/dryer, and plenty of other 120v draws, the turning on of a 13.5k BTU AC unit is upwards of 3.5k+ watts, it passes the 4k mark in a snap. So it's the inverter limitation that is causing us grief with respect to the AC usage so we are just trying to manage within that constraint. And we are managing, but at the expense of the air conditioner!! We suffered a lot last summer, I have to say. On one of the hottest days, it was 98 degrees (F) in our trailer!!! It was torture. I suppose with all of the cooling units we have purchased we probably could have purchased at least a big part of a higher capacity inverter!! What to do. 🤷‍♀ We technically could link up two of our big generators during the summer months and run that AC, but then we add the cost of fuel to run them every day, which would add up very very quickly ($$$$$). Comfort is too costly. 🤣

[@WhatsMyGear]

That's awesome! I love taking about off grid power. By IG, I meant Instagram. Here is my Instagram page where i post pics of our travels instagram.com/whatsmygear feel free to send me your Instagram page if you have one. Switching topics to off grid power... I was thinking of making a video on my boondocking setup. It's not nearly as capable as you off grid power setup, but it gets us through the night, and it recharges through the truck's engine while driving the next day. We target 3 to 4 week trips in our RV, and live at our home base between trips. So we do alot of 1 night boondocks in order to travel to our destination. Then we hook up to city power at our destination. For example, I live in Ohio, but when we stayed in South Dakota for 3 weeks, we boondocked 2 nights on the way to get there.

[@jaimeronderos3547]

Thank you for a very thorough video.

[@WhatsMyGear]

You are welcome!

[@patrickhanson9437]

Excellent video Thank You for posting it.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thank you. I hope this helped you!

[@danharris5873]

Why don't they just install these at the factory ridiculous! I guess it keeps the aftermarket companies in business. Thanks for the good video!

[@WhatsMyGear]

My guess is money and greed 😀. It would cost more to put them in. Even if they pass the cost to consumers, a competitor would just lower costs by taking them out, and most people wouldn't know or care. Most people just want the creeper unit. Then we are back where we started. Btw thanks for the comment. It really helps the channel! ❤️

[@nyzbrooks]

Enjoyed the video it was vert helpful for me, we are just starting out on our tent to travel trailer journey!

[@WhatsMyGear]

Awesome! Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help in any way.

[@PatFoy]

Great video! Go Paul Go!

[@WhatsMyGear]

I'll pass your kind words to Paul 😀

[@WNTAdventures]

Paul! Start a channel for us do it yourselfers who need a little hand holding.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Agreed! That's for the comment!

[@yogibeer9319]

Good information, thanks! I ordered a SoftStart and this helped. My 2800 Onan Microlite dies when the Penguin II AC compressor kicks in.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Let me know how it goes!

[@125AXer]

Well done, informative video. Thank you! I have a vintage coach, and the AC's are original. They still work OK, but newer ones would be much more efficient. When I do the upgrade, I'll be installing a SoftStartRV device with them. #softstartrv Paul is definitely someone who could create a following via the clear and accurate style with which he did this installation. One single note of difference is that I prefer shrink tubing over electrical tape. I think that it creates a more waterproof seal for connections, but the tape is certainly okay.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Good note. 👍 thank you for commenting, and good luck on the new ac installation when you get to it 😀 and I'll pass your note to Paul

[@neilcoleman4454]

Thanks Im about to get a soft start and install it myself.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Let me know how it goes. I hope doing it yourself saves you money! I love DIY!

[@TragicEngineer2024]

#sortstartrv Great job. Thanks Paul!

[@WhatsMyGear]

😀

[@Mstred]

Yes, I got tons of value out of this video. I will subscribe to your channel when I know what it is called!

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thanks. My channel is called Whats My Gear

[@harlanstillions1442]

Good video. Like the way you restated what you were doing with each wire. So many go so fast it's hard to follow.

[@WhatsMyGear]

So glad you got value out of it! Are you installing one?

[@Yestopeace365]

Good value Paul!

[@WhatsMyGear]

❤️

[@tracyshrable4224]

I would love to see Paul start a KZbin channel

[@WhatsMyGear]

Agreed!

[@mr.mr.4356]

Awesome yes start that channel

[@WhatsMyGear]

I'll let him know!!! Thanks for commenting

[@1knightinbangkok946]

Good job. Thank you for the video. I'd like to see a video of you putting those screws in. Not much room to do that...😮

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thanks for the kind words. I used super short self tapers. It was uneventful

[@TonyConard]

Awesome video!

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thank you so much! I hope you got value from it!

[@peternewsome3940]

thanks soft start

[@WhatsMyGear]

Word

[@dannymann60]

Great job, very helpful.

[@WhatsMyGear]

So glad you got value from this

[@tnno2mom]

This was kind of easy. I think it’s something RV owners should give a shot if you work on other components of your RV. Thanks guys for this. ✌🏻🤍

[@WhatsMyGear]

You are welcome! I'm so glad you got value out of this!

[@troydevault1367]

Good job.paul needs his channel.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Agreed, he hasn't started one yet, but I'll pass your positive feedback along!

[@dianeassell6530]

It was a really helpful video. I would say it would have been a little bit better if you had gone a little slower with what wire attaches to where or just repeating it once that step is complete. All the talking in between the steps about how to connect what to were with what connectors confuses the steps somewhat so reiterating what you got connected to where before you move on would have been a little bit more helpful. Having the schematic of course was absolutely the best advice to double check. So does this work with the solar or only with the 15 amp hookup?

[@WhatsMyGear]

The soft start operates on any power source to my knowledge. We didn't want to be too prescriptive on the hookups because you need to follow the exact steps for your unit. We don't want people following our wiring if their unit requires different wiring. So take the wiring section of the video as conceptual and follow your diagram instead of us.

[@leslieservantofgod8601]

Yeah thank you very cool want one for my solar power power plant

[@WhatsMyGear]

What is your solar setup?

[@davidbeuke6822]

Great video

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thank you!

[@willarddenton4360]

Thank You and go for it Paul

[@WhatsMyGear]

I'll let him know you are giving a vote of confidence! I just talked to him last week about starting one, lol

[@bdaddythr33]

Go Paul!

[@WhatsMyGear]

Yes!

[@DOO718]

Thanks guys. that was helpful and a great video. The one question I have is WHY do they use black AC covers? WHITE is cooler. It makes no sense to me.

[@WhatsMyGear]

I don't know for sure, but I've heard anecdotally that white plastic brakes down faster in sunlight. Again, not sure if that's true.

[@davidmiller566]

Good job guys!

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thank you! Appreciate the comment!

[@jeffreyrodriguez1599]

Great video I just got a RV camper sundance I am going do that to my

[@WhatsMyGear]

Let me know how it goes!

[@swidahopapatnaghodach4776]

amazing - thanks for this! .. wondering why RV mfgrs don't install those on every AC from the factory ... #softstartrv

[@WhatsMyGear]

Agreed!

[@Broke_Expat]

This should not have to after market install a softstart… jmho

[@WhatsMyGear]

It doesn't "have" to. It's optional.

[@boblarkin5383]

TIP - The crimp connectors were of 2 styles. The hard yellow plastic, and the soft translucent yellow ones. Thw aoft connectors are heat shrink with a heat activated sealent/glue. Always heat thwse. They will shrink, and the sealant will prevent water feom entering and provide a physical connection to the wire insulation.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Great tip! Thank you!

[@mattmanyam]

The yellow connectors I saw are NOT heat-shrink. They are just nylon, which is a step up from the solid yellow vinyl connectors. heat-shrink connectors don't have the flared insertion funnel, and the extension from the metal crimp is longer, for strain relief.

[@boblarkin5383]

@@mattmanyam You are correct. Had to watch it on my PC. Helps with the big screen. After years of using the heats shrink for marine and auto applications, that is all I have in the shop.

[@margaretcontreras2932]

Excellent video thank you❤

[@WhatsMyGear]

You are welcome!

[@GordonWare-h5g]

NICE VIDEO!!!!!!

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thanks! Hope you got value out of it!

[@hank5909]

Awesome video, is there anyway to install this without removing the cover?

[@WhatsMyGear]

Great question. Which cover? The black plastic outside cover or the metal cover that hides the wires?

[@805gregg]

What's on the other side where the screws would go? You just had the cover off, just look inside, you are worried about a little air leak? what about the black cover that heats everything under it up? In the hot sun, black paint can heat up to between 130-150 degrees, paint it white

[@WhatsMyGear]

Even with the cover off, we can't see inside the air duct. That's why we moved it to the other side. The concern is that there could be wires on the other side or anything else unknown that we don't want rubbing on the sharp end of the screws over time. An air leak from screw holes is not a concern. Painting is an interesting idea. White would be cooler.

[@tomkroon54]

#softstart. yes start a channel like your relaxed style of "instruction"

[@WhatsMyGear]

I'll relay this to Paul! Thanks for the feedback!

[@johnnymedley3577]

Thanks for the help

[@WhatsMyGear]

i hope this helped :)

[@WhatsMyGear]

I just launched my Discord so we can chat, share pictures, and help each other. You can join by going to my website www.whatsmygear.com and click the button at the top that says Join My Discord. Hope to see you there 😀 Also make sure to stop mice from getting in your RV by watching my mouse proof RV video... kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6nIXqZtit56jbs

[@SR-wu8ls]

Great vid! Do you ever use heat shrink tubing instead of the electrical tape?

[@WhatsMyGear]

Yeah, if I have it on hand, I use it.

[@muddmaddness]

I would keep the wires off the the copper will cause rub outs

[@WhatsMyGear]

That makes sense. I wonder if it would be good to put pipe insulation around the copper.

[@muddmaddness]

@@WhatsMyGear wouldn't hurt it

[@mattbilodeau8603]

Well done, does this also help extend the life of the AC?

[@WhatsMyGear]

I'm not sure to be honest.

[@Jay-me7gw]

Supposedly because it keeps the start up torque lower.

[@johnnycolon8415]

Good video thanks

[@WhatsMyGear]

You are welcome!

[@risbill1]

I'm guessing in the next couple of years this will be built into new RV ac units by design.

[@WhatsMyGear]

It's so expensive that the production cost would have to come way down because RV manufacturers want to be as cheap as possible..or it would be an add-on option as a markup item.

[@risbill1]

@@WhatsMyGear I'm not talking about adding the aftermarket units. I'm talking about building it into the actual design and function of the AC unit which would be much less expensive since all it's really doing is turning on the system incrementally. I haven't torn one apart but I doubt there's more than $50 worth of components if you're buying in bulk.

[@WhatsMyGear]

O I see what you are saying. It would be nice if they did that.

[@larryjohns8823]

Another feature the manufacturer could install is to let the fan run a minute after the compression stops. This would get all the cold from the coils into the RV.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Great idea!

[@Dawes-Drummin]

#softstartrv. Great job!

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thanks! Glad you liked it

[@garrett7101]

Where can you get this done if you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself?

[@WhatsMyGear]

I believe most RV dealers with service departments would do it.

[@46fd04]

For anyone installing a SoftStart, remove the large aluminum cowling and clean the Evaporator. Mine was disgustingly filthy. My AC produced very cold air after that cleaning.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Can it be cleaned in place without having to remove it?

[@46fd04]

@@WhatsMyGear No. The Evaporator is the smaller radiator, located at the front of the AC unit. It is covered. The top cover must be removed to expose it. You then plug the hole in the roof (which goes into the trailer) with a large towel, and then apply AC cleaning foam to the Evaporator.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Are you rinsing it with water after the foam? Or is it a self rinse?

[@46fd04]

@@WhatsMyGear Self rinse. I wipe up the dripping mess with rags

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thanks! i may try this!

[@jwalkerC21]

Thank you

[@WhatsMyGear]

I hope you got value out of this video 😀

[@GroteMerlin-c5g]

Bergstrom Oval

[@WhatsMyGear]

You have an RV?

[@Scof-op2rx]

#softstartrv Thanks for the video! Very helpful!

[@WhatsMyGear]

You are welcome! Hope it helps!

[@EisenhowerWinifred-f4p]

Aiyana Street

[@LucileCollins-b2p]

Madeline Shoals

[@NackDSP]

Why not mount the soft start in the compartment with the capacitors?

[@WhatsMyGear]

For me, it felt very congested in there already, I'm not sure that it would fit. That might be different for other AC units. But also, I am concerned with having my hand in there with those capacitors because they could shock you, so I like the idea of minimizing the number of times my hand has to go in there. Lastly, It seems like jostling a box in there would not be a comfortable procedure as compared to mounting in the open accessible space outside that compartment. So, for those reasons, I personally wouldn't put it in the capacitor compartment. But note, I'm not an expert, just another RV owner trying to share experiences.

[@LuciusRussell-i2s]

Cheyanne Spring

[@WhatsMyGear]

Legit?

[@JordonNguyen-j4o]

Collins Ranch

[@WhatsMyGear]

Ok

[@HansenKelsen-s3y]

Brekke Dam

[@WhatsMyGear]

Werd!

[@toads_ride845]

Do they make a plug and play? Also how do I find out if my 2019 22RR forest river greywolf allready has one installed I bought it used?

[@WhatsMyGear]

I don't know if a plug and play version exists. I think you would have to take off the AC cover to see if one is installed already.

[@bcasey101]

#softstartrv Thanks, very helpful video

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thank you for commenting! Glad this was helpful

[@BretCooper-nz2ve]

Great video lol

[@WhatsMyGear]

Thanks!

[@IsobelHodos-f7z]

Roslyn Valley

[@WhatsMyGear]

What it is?

[@AdelaideTruda-h3r]

Lindgren Greens

[@WhatsMyGear]

For real?

[@CraigSmith-q5q]

Koch Crest

[@WhatsMyGear]

Huh?

[@EleanorBloomer-x9w]

Casper Stravenue

[@WhatsMyGear]

Believe it

[@thats_mr_b_]

Is there a way to wire this and have a plug for this AC run directly into a 20amp plug ? I have 2 AC but want a 3rd but my rv isn’t set up for 3 AC so I’m wondering if this will work

[@WhatsMyGear]

Great question, I have no idea. Are you sure there isn't enough room in your panel to wire it into a new breaker?

[@thats_mr_b_]

@@WhatsMyGear that would be out of my skill level. They way everyone was talking to me about “corded AC” I was literally thinking a 3 prong plug and when I wrote back about it no one mentioned hard wire. 16 hours later I learned I should have bought a 13.5 for what I want. Now I have a 15 sitting on the roof waiting for something to happen. Talked to 6 different rv techs/dealer ships and no one has given me that info I’ve rather past 2 weeks. Started digging google and KZbin

[@WhatsMyGear]

Would a softstart unit help? Maybe it would at least lessen the immediate power draw that shocks the system when the unit turns on.

[@RossKingsbury-u8z]

Jimmy Ports

[@Fox40-MD]

any idea what is the brand of the crimping tool?

[@WhatsMyGear]

I thought I linked it in the video description. Check there, and if it's not, I'll find out for you.

[@ShakespeareJerome-d8x]

Brekke Shores

[@WhatsMyGear]

Huh?

[@DurduArslanoglu-q1i]

Wehner Haven

[@WhatsMyGear]

Werd?

[@1crussell]

How do you like it thinking about getting 2 for my rv.

[@WhatsMyGear]

So far so good. If a little pricey so I just did 1. When I boondock I just use the one with the soft start. You may want to try it with 1 before buying 2.

[@ESRACANSEVER-q4r]

Abernathy Harbor

[@WhatsMyGear]

Legitimate

[@XtjvgbEincg-l9v]

Quitzon Creek

[@WhatsMyGear]

Wichitawwww?

[@AlfredPrimo-p3d]

Efrain Avenue

[@WhatsMyGear]

Beef?

[@bobjohnson8169]

Go Paul go! B

[@WhatsMyGear]

😀

[@FMX8100]

The 3M tape will eventually fail.

[@WhatsMyGear]

Fair

[@FMX8100]

@@WhatsMyGear I used the 3M VHB to stick my dashcam twice and it fails about 4 months in, the heat and the vibration do the trick. I'd screw the soft start if I were you, and I agree that you need to know what's behind that metal wall :)

[@GeorgeMackay-j4i]

Jazmyne View

[@WhatsMyGear]

Ok

[@SynthiaHunter-v7i]

Dach Path

[@WhatsMyGear]

Hmm

[@ChristyDarnell-b9z]

Conroy Stream

[@WhatsMyGear]

Okeydokey

[@RuthPerez-t3w]

Hintz Junctions

[@WhatsMyGear]

Valuable

[@AlbertSpring-o9t]

Brigitte Loop

[@WhatsMyGear]

Kewl

[@SamCheryl-s6q]

Coralie Camp

[@WhatsMyGear]

?

[@GregRodriquez-y2d]

Cole Flat

[@WhatsMyGear]

Yeppers